As a result, when the words reached his lips, he only managed to utter something even he found foolish.
"How… how did you get in?"
"Oh, that? I told your mom, and she let me come find you," Kiyono quickly explained his legitimacy.
His guard is too low!
"Even your family agreed to this. Come down quickly, or I'll smash your window with a baseball bat!" The boy tossed the ball in his hand.
Are you a baseball hooligan?!
Sunlight filtered through the tree canopy, casting dappled light. A boy and a girl stood beneath the tree, stepping on the light spots.
Just then, Kiyono stopped. The blonde girl walked a couple more steps before realizing and turning her head to look at the boy.
"So, I'm going to participate in next week's baseball game," he said.
"Huh? You're playing baseball?"
Eriri's blue eyes widened. Her small head couldn't quite grasp the meaning of the boy's words. She knew Kiyono had been playing baseball recently, but he was nowhere near good enough to play in a game!
Besides, your hands are for writing, why would you go and…
Ah. She suddenly understood something and bit her lip.
It was because of her.
"I will convey important things to you."
—Such was his declaration.
On the sports field, Yukino Yukinoshita, Yuigahama Yui, and Hiratsuka Shizuka from the Service Club stood in a line, watching the baseball club's practice. Because the sun was too hot, they all wore sun-blocking caps.
"It seems a comeback like in a manga is impossible," the teacher, who loved passionate stories, sighed. At this moment, a visibly dejected atmosphere permeated the baseball club. Even their daily practice was half-hearted. The coach's retirement and the injury of key members were too great a blow for a sports club.
Yukino stood still, as pure and brilliant as the winter snow in the far north, her demeanor unchanged even by the sun. Yet, the stern girl secretly sighed, thinking thoughts uncharacteristic of her.
Although she didn't want to admit it, she was indeed not good at leading a team, especially a baseball team. With the baseball club in such a state, she didn't know how to inspire them to recover.
Logically, the request she accepted was only to "help the baseball club formulate practice plans, make them stronger, until the next game," not to help them win the game. She had already tried her best and could only accept such a result.
However, since she had agreed to it, she had to take responsibility for the outcome.
Perhaps it might seem foolish to others, but this was a principle Yukino always adhered to.
If… that guy were here, would things have turned out better?
Yukino suddenly had such a thought.
"Hmm, that swing angle would give even the God of Baseball nightmares."
Yuigahama sat on a nearby chair, watching the new third batter. She bit into an ice pop, sighing softly—nine out of ten swings were misses. Even an amateur like her could tell his skill level.
"After all, he's just a junior from the first year. At a time like this, will the one to save everything be a transfer student burdened with the Koshien dream? Or a legendary genius batter pursued by professional scouts?"
Hiratsuka-sensei suddenly spoke in a low, almost theatrical tone.
The moment her words fell, the cicadas' chirping abruptly ceased.
"Are you looking for me?"
The three members of the Service Club turned their heads in surprise.
As if an invisible hand plucked the strings of light, the setting sun suddenly erupted in a brilliant cascade of radiance. A boy emerged from the burning sun, a baseball bag slung over his shoulder. With each step he took, tiny specks of light dust rose. When his figure completely enveloped the three, the clamor of the baseball club's training field receded like a tide.
—The boy, standing against the light, smiled.
"Um…" Yuigahama's ice pop dripped onto her white sock, and the girl offered an awkward smile. "We were just joking…"
"Don't spoil it! For a 'Shōwa-era hero' entrance like this, at least give a reaction befitting a hot-blooded manga!" Hiratsuka Shizuka encouraged with her eyes.
Yukino said nothing, only looked at him with a strange expression.
"Don't look at me like that! I just wanted to imitate a classic plot!"
The protagonist's aura instantly vanished. Kiyono coughed, pretending nothing had happened.
"I heard you need a batter here?"
Although she had looked disgusted a moment ago, the instant she saw the boy's figure, Yukino's heart inexplicably settled down… Was he here for her? That must be the only reason, right?
Thinking this, the girl's emotions subtly shifted.
Delicate.
Soft.
Like happiness, like reliance.
Even her words became three points softer.
"Can you play baseball? Just so you know, you'll be playing in an official game next."
"I've played a bit for a while, but I'm definitely far from a professional player now. Still, if I practice hard, I should be able to keep up," Kiyono said honestly. He never underestimated sports; none of the great players relied solely on talent and luck. It would be impossible for him to surpass others in a short time and become a top ace.
"Is that so?"
For some reason, Yukino raised an eyebrow, suddenly a little displeased—Kiyono had changed, but she hadn't noticed it immediately.
As if to hide this emotion, she stood up and led Kiyono onto the field, temporarily stopping the baseball club members' practice.
Meanwhile, at a distance, Eriri quietly observed the situation.
Yukino briefly introduced him:
"Hmm… This is a new foreign player I found. You can try practicing with him."
Everyone's gaze shifted, curiously focusing on Kiyono—as baseball players, their first concern was his height and arm length, which are basic indicators for judging a player. Kiyono perfectly met the standards for both.
"Kiyono-kun, you're willing to join the baseball club now?" Imai, the flat-haired boy who had practiced baseball with him before, looked delighted.
"I'm just filling in for the first game next week, so I'm considered an 'outsider'… That being said, my skills might not even be good enough yet," Kiyono said humbly.
"Come on, give it a try," they said enthusiastically.
So, they had a simple practice.
Under the gazes of Eriri and Yukino, Kiyono put on his baseball helmet, picked up a metal bat, and stepped into the batter's box.
The so-called "third batter" is the player often seen standing next to the catcher in baseball manga—as long as he keeps hitting the balls thrown by the opponent, he can score runs.
He pulled down the brim of his cap, gripped the bat tightly with both hands, and fixed his eyes on the ball.
So this person has this side to him, too, Yukino and Eriri realized with a start.
From the audience's perspective, on the field, because everyone wore the same uniform and baseball caps, individual identities blended into the group. But she had absolute confidence that she could spot him in the crowd at a glance—it was a certain fiery will.
The air gradually quieted. The pitcher gripped the ball with both hands, twisted his body—
And then.
Clang!
The powerful ball flew high into the sky.
…You call that "not good enough"?
Yukino and the others suddenly fell silent.
After a simple practice game, the baseball club members' attitude towards the boy instantly became much more enthusiastic—if he could join, it would definitely strengthen their team.
But…
"Sorry, I probably can't practice with the baseball club."
Kiyono's words brought the entire field to a halt.
Feeling the strange looks from those around him, and to avoid being misunderstood, he explained further:
"I plan to practice hard this week, after all, my practice time has been too short. But I'm afraid that if you spend too much time with me, it will put a burden on your bodies. If another injured player appears, you might as well withdraw from the tournament."
This was the truth. To impress a certain girl, he decided to go all out—or rather, that had always been his style. The club's regular practice couldn't satisfy him.
I see, the other members understood. They couldn't ask for too much and could only hope that Kiyono's skills would improve this week.
Next, Kiyono played two more simple games, then walked off the field, bought a sports drink, and muttered,
"Is there a good practice partner…"
In his current position, he could easily find a large number of professional sparring partners if he just asked, but that always felt too serious and unnecessary. Student baseball games should still have that student-like passion.
"There is."
It sounded like someone was speaking.
"Preferably a cute sports girl, with firm muscles, soft feminine thighs, and a graceful waist."
"There is, brother."
He must have been overthinking it.
"Preferably someone with a shared fighting spirit, to run together."
"There is, brother, there is."
"—So you're not a hallucination!"
Looking at the pretty, smiling girl in front of him, Kiyono's eyes widened, and his mouth hung open in a daze.
She had neat, short hair, adorned with an orange-yellow Lemon hairpin. Her delicate and pretty face was free of any makeup, and just as he had described, she possessed a captivating figure that most girls couldn't compare to, her exposed skin revealing a touch of allure.
—Yakishio Lemon.
He had not expected the girl from the previous version to appear here. Besides, this was supposed to be his simulation!
Lemon tilted her head, taking two steps back.
"So I'm a phantom-level beautiful girl in Kiyono's eyes, I'm so happy!"
"That means I was too shocked…" Kiyono explained.
"Such an unromantic man."
The athletic girl said in a frustrated tone, then, with a beaming smile, she extended a finger and pointed at him.
"I'm here to play ball with you."
You'd cross two worlds just to exercise with me, you… I'm almost touched.
Kiyono was filled with emotion and extended his fist.
Under the summer sun, Lemon smiled and bumped fists with him.
The two followed Lemon to a field in a nearby large park—it had already been reserved by Lemon in advance, making it a perfect practice spot. From time to time, children would gather to the side, curiously peering over.
The athletic girl, while doing stretching exercises, looked at Kiyono and said with a smile:
"Hehe, can you feel the pressure of a strong person from me?"
"Sorry, this is my area of expertise this time. I'm going to use my bat to avenge myself."
Kiyono was also warming up. Their gazes inadvertently met, and both seemed to recall past events, simultaneously showing nostalgic expressions.
"Does Kiyono want to get revenge with a bat… Naughty?"
"Don't make dirty jokes out of nowhere!"
At this moment, Eriri, watching their intimate interaction, unconsciously twitched her lips—how could he encounter such a beautiful girl he was so close to just by going out? And is such a hot-blooded development really okay?!
The blonde girl's mood was a bit strange; after all, in her eyes, Kiyono had always been a shut-in like her.
That is to say—
Is he doing this for me?
Whoosh, a white ball flew over cleanly. Kiyono instinctively swung his bat—